Govt mulls National Assembly’s dissolution in August to hold polls in November

The coalition partners are conferring over holding general elections in the country as the National Assembly is completing its constitutional term on August 13, 2023, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.

According to sources, the PML-N led government is mulling over dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9 or 10 to hold elections in the first week of November this year.

The government sources revealed that the PML-N has broached the subject in its meetings with the Pakistan Peoples Party and PDM and JUI Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

As per the Constitution, if the National Assembly completes its term on August 13, the election must be held within 60 days.

But if the assembly dissolution is effected before its expiry, let’s say Aug 9-10, then the government will get 90 days to conduct the polls.

The dissolution will buy the government 90 days instead of 60 days in case assembly completes its term.

Sources said that the government is pondering over the elections-in-90-days option to get more time for electioneering.

However, the final decision will be taken in the summit of the heads of coalition partners after Eidul Adha.

Sources further divulged that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will hold a meeting with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in London in a few days and discuss the matter with him.

The prime minister will make a short stay in London during his three-day sojourn to Paris starting from tomorrow where he will attend the New Global Financing Summit.

Sources said that the duo are expected to meet on June 23.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan has started preparing for general elections as National, Sindh and Balochistan assemblies are set to expire in less than two months.

A meeting of the commission was held yesterday under the chair of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in Islamabad. The meeting deliberated on the steps and arrangements made so far for the upcoming general elections.

The ECP secretary told the meeting participants that procurement of paper for necessary election material and ballot papers had been completed and its safe storage had been ensured.

He said the draft list of polling stations has also been prepared, which will be handed over to returning officers immediately after the notification so that they can publish it initially. And, after hearing the objections and suggestions of the voters, the ECP will ensure its final publication in accordance with the law, he said.

The last date for registration, exclusion and verification of voters as per law is July 13.

 

Reporter Mohsinul Mulk